What the Future of Work May Look Like: The Portfolioist

Now, there’s a new way to consider the trajectory of your career, and it’s called being a "portfolioist." Here's what being a portfolioist looks like. Save

When you think of your career up until this point, what sort of image comes to mind? A straight line shooting upwards, or a curvy line that represents the ebbs and flows of career changes or on-ramping? Now, there’s a new way to consider the trajectory of your career, and it’s called being a “portfolioist.”

In the Quartz article, “The Career of the Future Looks More Like a Portfolio Than a Path,” the idea of what your career could like is up for debate. With the leaps and bounds that work flexibility has played in how, when, and where people work, the traditional 9-to-5 job is rapidly becoming obsolete. In turn, more workers can tackle multiple projects that reflect their skills, experience, education, and yes, passion in an entirely new way.

Portfolioist or Freelancer

But wait, you think. Isn’t that just freelancing with a fancy bow and a new name? Not really. A portfolioist seeks out work that is a true reflection of who they are and where their interests lie. These types of workers align their many passions—as well as past jobs and/or careers—and join all of their collective talents to jobs and create a career that is at once professional and personal, diversified and flexible.

While portfolioists, much like freelancers, may be self-employed, many aren’t. They use their talents to create multiple revenue streams that bring varying levels of income and experience to their portfolio. They are adept at assessing what employers need, and then use the sum total of their work experience and talents to help them attain their goals.

Unlike freelancers, portfolioists might not have just one recurring theme in their portfolio, but a wealth of work that spans several industries and former careers. They are less concerned with a label, (i.e., “I’m a writer”) and focused instead on matching their qualifications to a job, regardless of title.

What It Takes to be a Portfolioist

If becoming a portfolioist makes sense at this point in your career to you, consider what it would truly take to become one. First, you’ll need to determine how you’d like to work—do you want to work remotely, report to an office (even sometimes), or would you rather work from wherever the wind takes you?

You’ll also need to be able to handle the risk factor intrinsic in being a portfolioist. Similar to freelancers, you might be paid in a salary, in trade, in retainers, equity, or even pro bono, if you’re in an apprenticeship role as you learn new tools of the trade. Be sure to factor in your finances as well and decide what type of job(s) you’re interested in, whether it’s a full-time, remote job, for example, or a series of short-term, freelance gigs—and most importantly, how many of them you’ll be able to juggle at one time.

Types of Portfolios by Age

The answers to these aforementioned questions will most likely be determined by your age. If you’re new to the job market, your focus would be to build a skills portfolio, where you’ll attain the necessary skills and education to make yourself marketable. If you’re in the middle of your career, you should consider striving for a results portfolio. This portfolio will focus less on what you know and more on your accomplishments, ability to be a flexible worker, and your specific areas of expertise. And finally, if you’re an older worker who’s considering portfolioism, then your portfolio would be a master one. This showcases your expertise and the wealth of experience and knowledge you would bring to any role.

While the branding of being a portfoliost is a new concept, the idea behind it really isn’t. At the end of the day, workplace flexibility has paved the way for people to work how, when, and where it makes the most sense for them. So whether you call yourself a remote worker, a telecommuter, a freelancer, or even a portfolioist, it all comes down to having the flexible work options to pursue a career that is meaningful to you on every level.